County’s jobless claims slightly rise in November

For the first time in several months, Franklin County’s unemployment rate increased slightly in November.

The jobless claims reported for the month increased from 9.3 percent in October to 9.5 percent. That is still down considerably from last year’s November high of 12.2 percent.

In fact, the number of jobless claims filed only represents three more county residents than from the previous month. November’s claims represent 1,232 county residents, compared to October’s 1,229.

The increase reflected the statewide trend as well.

Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees announced Friday that Alabama’s November unemployment rate is 9 percent, a slight increase above October’s rate of 8.9 percent.

“We saw a small increase, but our unemployment rate continues to remain well below the national average and our Employment Service Division is reporting more active job orders than at any time in the past three years,” Surtees said.

The national rate for November was 9.8 percent, up from October’s national rate of 9.6 percent.

In November 2010, the Employment Service Division reported 9,376 active job orders, which is more than any amount recorded in 2007, 2008 or 2009.

Wage and salary employment increased 2,100 over the month with the majority of the upturn resulting from gains in the trade, transportation and utilities sector.

November’s rate represents 192,961 unemployed persons statewide, compared to 189,289 in October. A year ago, in November 2009, the state’s unemployment rate was 10.9 percent, which represented 224,552 unemployed persons.

The counties with the lowest unemployment rates were Shelby at 6.7 percent, Coffee at 7 percent and Madison at 7.1 percent. The counties with the highest rates were Wilcox at 20.7 percent, Greene at 18.3 percent and Dallas at 16.8 percent.